Party wants to get passenger rail back on track
The party released its shadow budget yesterday ahead of the government's official Budget announcements.
The shadow budget has a strong focus on the environment and curbing emissions, and key to this platform is the restoration of passenger rail across the country.
The document notes that "Aotearoa was once linked up by passenger rail — from Christchurch to Dunedin, and to a myriad of small towns in between".
"On any given day there were at least two passenger rail services to Christchurch from Dunedin.
"Our plan to deliver a passenger rail service between Christchurch and Dunedin assumes leased rail cars from KiwiRail, while a stage one proof of concept is under way and establishment and refurbishment of stations at Rolleston, Timaru, Oamaru and Ashburton."
Under the proposal, one train would run each way per day.
"Once the passenger service has been proven, we would electrify and upgrade the main line from Christchurch to Ashburton to 110kmh, and purchase tilt trains to run the service and speed up travel times."
The Southerner, running between Christchurch and Invercargill via Dunedin, ran successfully from 1970.
In 1993, the rail system was sold privately, before being sold back to the government in a significantly degraded condition, and closed in 2002.
Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick said New Zealand once had regular, affordable train services connecting the country's centres and regions.
"We've done it before, and we can do it again.
"A passenger rail link would be great for students studying in Otago and Canterbury, and once the new Dunedin hospital is up and running, there will need to be a comfortable, accessible mode of transport for patients and whānau travelling there from around the region."
Rail & Maritime Transport Union general secretary Todd Valster said reviving regional rail had a lot of merit, economically and environmentally.
"There are a lot of people, young people nowadays in particular, that don't necessarily own cars and would like public transport options."
The Green Party's shadow budget costs the project's operating expenditure at $16.89 million over its first four years, generating revenue of about $14.19m.
Upgrading the stations would cost about $20m, buying the new trains about $90m and upgrading the lines about $300m over four years.
matthew.littlewood@odt.co.nz
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